November 12, 2015

By Design: Mattress Warehouse to Charter School

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held onsite on October 8, 2015.

CMIT Math and IT South is the fourth building use conversion Arium AE has assisted Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation with.

What began as a 100,000 square foot vacant mattress warehouse and distribution facility, is now a school where 450 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders are being taught with a curriculum that emphasizes math and IT. Over the next several years it will grow to accommodate through the 12^th grade and a total of 800 students.

While much of the pre-engineered building’s exterior remains unchanged, the interior has undergone a complete transformation. The facility has been outfitted with standard classrooms, labs, robotics classrooms and a full gymnasium. Phase 1 of the project was completed on schedule in a little under a year. Phase 2 will add more classrooms, an indoor soccer field, auditorium and more science labs. 

While this project may not be what everyone thinks about when they think Architecture, the impact on tomorrow’s future is clearly evident. As a firm, we’re invested in assisting clients who are looking to creatively take advantage of existing built environment and utilize it to create a future for tomorrow in a responsible and very local way.

Here are a few images, you can see more at Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s Facebook Photo Album.

Classrooms are designed to meet different teaching needs inclucing traditional desks, on-hands lab space, and use of laptops and smart boards by both teachers and students.

Arium was pleased to work Spear Lancaster & Yahyahan Kaya of CLF, Bob Oare of DTZ and Jeff Kassman of KasCon, Inc. on another sucessful project.